Image forming device including a cleaning member

Abstract

An image forming device includes a photoconductive drum, a discharge electrode which discharges corona onto a surface of the photoconductive drum, and a cleaning member which cleans the discharge electrode by moving on the discharge electrode. The image forming device further includes a detection device, which is arranged on one of a first side and a second side in a moving direction of the cleaning member, and detects a current value of an electric current discharged from the discharge electrode.

1. An image forming device, comprising:
 a photoconductive drum; 
 a discharge electrode which discharges corona onto a surface of the photoconductive drum; 
 a cleaning member which cleans the discharge electrode by moving along the discharge electrode; and 
 a detection device arranged on one of a first side and a second side in a moving direction of the cleaning members and detects a current value of an electric current discharged from the discharge electrode. 
 
     
     
       2. The image forming device according to  claim 1 , wherein the detection device detects a first current value as a value of an electric current discharged from the discharge electrode prior to a cleaning operation performed by the cleaning member, and a second current value as a value of an electric current discharged from the discharge electrode after the cleaning operation has been performed by the cleaning member, and the image forming device further comprises a comparison device which compares the detected first current value and the detected second current value. 
     
     
       3. The image forming device according to  claim 2 , wherein after the cleaning operation has been performed by the cleaning member, when the comparison device determines that a difference between the first current value and the second current value is equal to or greater than a prescribed threshold value, a determination is made that a life-span of the discharge electrode has ended. 
     
     
       4. The image forming device according to  claim 2 , further comprising a computer including a display, wherein a comparison result of the comparison device is transmitted to the computer, and the computer displays the comparison result on the display. 
     
     
       5. The image forming device according to  claim 2 , further comprising a driving member which moves the cleaning member, wherein when the comparison device determines that a difference between the first current value and the second current value is equal to or greater than a prescribed threshold value, the comparison device outputs a control signal to the driving member, the driving member that received the control signal is driven, and the cleaning member moves on the discharge electrode to clean the discharge electrode. 
     
     
       6. The image forming device according to  claim 2 , further comprising a second detection device, wherein the first and second detection devices are arranged on both the first side and the second side in the moving direction of the cleaning member. 
     
     
       7. An image forming device, comprising:
 a photoconductive drum; 
 a discharge electrode which discharges corona onto a surface of the photoconductive drum; 
 a cleaning member which cleans the discharge electrode by moving on the discharge electrode; and 
 two detection devices, wherein the detection devices are arranged on both a first side and a second side in a moving direction of the cleaning member and detect a current value of an electric current discharged from the discharge electrode. 
 
     
     
       8. The image forming device according to  claim 7 , wherein one of the two detection devices detects a first current value as a value of an electric current discharged from the discharge electrode prior to a cleaning operation performed by the cleaning member, and another one of the detection devices detects a second current value as a value of an electric current discharged from the discharge electrode after the cleaning operation has been performed by the cleaning member, and the image forming device further comprises a comparison device which compares the detected first current value and the detected second current value. 
     
     
       9. The image forming device according to  claim 8 , wherein after the cleaning operation by the cleaning member, when the comparison device determines that a difference between the first current value and the second current value is equal to or greater than a prescribed threshold value, a determination is made that a life-span of the discharge electrode has ended. 
     
     
       10. The image forming device according to  claim 8 , further comprising a computer including a display, wherein a comparison result of the comparison device is transmitted to the computer, and the computer displays the comparison result on the display. 
     
     
       11. The image forming device according to  claim 8 , further comprising a driving member which moves the cleaning member, wherein when the comparison device determines that a difference between the first current value and the second current value is equal to or greater than a prescribed threshold value, the comparison device outputs a control signal to the driving member, the driving member that received the control signal is driven, and the cleaning member moves on the discharge electrode to clean the discharge electrode. 
     
     
       12. An image forming device, comprising:
 a photoconductive drum; 
 a discharge electrode which discharges corona onto a surface of the photoconductive drum; 
 a cleaning member which cleans the discharge electrode; 
 a grid electrode which is provided along a direction in which the discharge electrode extends; 
 at least one detection device which is provided on the grid electrode and detects a current value of an electric current discharged from the discharge electrode; and 
 a driving member which moves the cleaning member; wherein 
 the at least one detection device detects a first current value as a value of an electric current discharged from the discharge electrode prior to a cleaning operation by the cleaning member, and a second current value as a value of an electric current discharged from the discharge electrode after the cleaning operation by the cleaning member; 
 the image forming device further comprises a comparison device which compares the first current value and the second current value detected by the at least one detection device; and 
 when the comparison device determines that a difference between the first current value and the second current value is equal to or greater than a prescribed threshold value, the comparison device outputs a control signal to the driving member, the driving member that received the control signal is driven, and the cleaning member moves on the discharge electrode to clean the discharge electrode. 
 
     
     
       13. The image forming device according to  claim 12 , further comprising a computer including a display, wherein a comparison result of the comparison device is transmitted to the computer, and the computer displays the comparison result on the display. 
     
     
       14. The image forming device according to  claim 12 , further comprising a power source, wherein the discharge electrode, the grid electrode and the at least one detection device are connected to the power source, and an electric current detected by the at least one detection device is supplied to the grid electrode.